Record-storage rack



Jan. 4, I966 N. PUNT 3,227,282 I RECORD-STORAGE RACK Filed July 27, 1964INVENTOR.

NEAL PUN T BY W @1 5 United States Patent Office Patented Jan. 4, 1966 IRECORD-STORAGE RACK Neal Punt, Rte. 1, Coopersville, Mich. Filed July27, 1964, Sel. No. 385,230 3 Claims. (Cl. 21140) This invention relatesto the construction of racks for storing phonograph records. The usualprotective envelopes in which these record discs are marketed oftencontain much printed information of permanent interest, and it isdesirable to retain these for reference. Record discs should thereforebe stored in these envelopes, and the present invention providesaccessibility to the discs without removal of the envelopes from therack. This fea ture is retained without presenting any interference withthe removal of the envelopes whenever this is desirable. The envelopesare subject to much less wear in this storage arrangement, and thereforehave a much greater useful life.

The usual envelopes are of cardboard, and are open along one edge. Thepresent invention provides an arrangement for oppositely buckling thesides of a selected envelope so that the contained record disc isexposed for access. The open condition of the envelope can be maintainedto facilitate re-insertion of the record disc without searching for theparticular envelope from which the disc had been removed.

The several features of the invention will be analyzed in detail througha discussion of the particular embodiment illustrated in theaccompanying drawing. In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a record-storage rack embodying thisinvention, with the outline of a record envelope being indicated indotted lines.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation of the device shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section in side elevation of thelower front portion of the device.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section from the front showing theaction of a wedge member in opening a selected one of the envelopes.

The rack illustrated in the drawings includes the spaced side membersand 11 interconnected by the top beam 12, and by the bottom rods 13 and14 which form a base for the device. These rods are preferably securedto the end members 10 and 11 by screws as shown at 15 and 16 whichtraverse the end members 10 and 11, and enter suitable threaded holes(not shown) in the ends of the rods 13 and 14. A shelf 17 is preferablysecured to the lower front rod 13 as an added component of the basestructure.

A group of parallel spacer wires 18 are secured to the rods 13 and 14,and are also interconnected at the rear of the device by the rod 19which forms a stop limiting the rearward movement of the envelopes 20.The spacer members 18 are bent into a configuration such that theportions 21 engage exclusively the lower portion of the envelopes 20,and the inclined portions 22 engage the envelopes exclusively at therear. This arrangement adequately positions the envelopes vertically,and yet presents no substantial interference to the lateralseparation-0f the walls 23 and 24 of the envelopes 20 to expose therecord discs 25 for access.

The arrangement for inducing the opening of the envelopes is best shownin FIGURE 4, and involves an inter action between the wedge 26, theupper beam 12, and the base structure on which the envelopes 20 aresupported. The wedge 26 is then shoved into the space between the topedge of the envelope 2t and the beam 12. This forced engagement willinduce a downward force against the envelope, and will buckle the walls23 and 24 outwardly into the position shown in FIGURE 4. A rack willpreferably have several of the wedge members 26, and these are slidablymounted along the beam 12, in addition to being laterally movable withrespect thereto. The preferred arrangement for providing this freedom ofmovement involves the bent wire retainer members 27 having the endsengaging the wedges 26 to form a closed loop embracing the upper beam12. Preferably, these loops are formed in such a Way as to provide apointer portion 28 which will extend upwardly when the wedge unit issuspended in the position shown in full lines in FIGURE 1. The wedge canbe swung to a position where it is more easily manipulated by the gentlepressure of the finger against the extremity of the pointer portion 28.The pointer portion 28 also facilitates the placement of the wedge 26with respect to a particular envelope. The lower edge of the wedge 26(which engages the envelope) is preferably concave to prevent slipoif.

The degree of convergence of the wedges 26 is preferably selected sothat the wedge will maintain an inserted position as shown in FIGURE 4,and thus maintain the open condition of the envelope to receive therecord disc after it has been played. The entire unit may be transportedvery easily to and from a position adjacent the record player by the useof the handle configuration shown at 29. These handles are incorporatedin both of the side members 10 and 11, and are located approximately ator above the center of gravity of the entire device.

The particular embodiments of the present invention which have beenillustrated and discussed herein are for illustrative purposes only andare not to be considered as a limitation upon the scope of the appendedclaims. In these claims, it is my intent to claim the entire inventiondisclosed herein, except as I am limited by the prior art.

I claim:

1. A rack for storing record discs contained within envelopes, said rackcomprising:

a frame having spaced side members, and a base and an upper beaminterconnecting said side members; and

at least one wedge member having a portion adapted for insertion betweensaid upper beam and the upper edge of a record disc envelope to applyforce from said beam to said envelope toward said base, and thereby openthe said envelope by oppositely buckling the walls thereof, said wedgemember being slidable on said upper beam axially and transverselythereof, and having a portion normally embracing said upper beam.

2. A rack as defined in claim 1, wherein said wedge member has a pointerportion extending above said beam when said wedge member is hangingfreely therefrom.

3. A rack as defined in claim 1, wherein said frame also includes aplurality of spaced parallel separator members fixed with respect tosaid base for receiving record disc envelopes therebetween, and a rodinterconnecting the rear of said separator members and forming a stoplimiting the rearward movement of record envelopes.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 415,634 11/1889Guptill 21l41 2,568,955 9/1951 Englander 248-l17.2 3,144,943 8/1964 Punt21l40 CHANCE-LLOR E. HARRIS, Primary Examiner.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Examiner.

1. A RACK FOR STORING RECORD DISCS CONTAINED WITHIN ENVELOPES, SAID RACKCOMPRISING: A FRAME HAVING SPACED SIDE MEMBERS, AND A BASE AND AN UPPERBEAM INTERCONNECTING SAID SIDE MEMBERS; AND AT LEAST ONE WEDGE MEMBERHAVING A PORTION ADAPTED FOR INSERTION BETWEEN SAID UPPER BEAM AND THEUPPER EDGE OF A RECORD DISC ENVELOPE TO APPLY FORCE FROM SAID BEAM TOSAID ENVELOPE TOWARD SAID BASE, AND THEREBY